First Book Blog

Behind the Scenes at First Book Canada: Gurdeep

Posted in: Focus on First Book Canada, Inside First Book Canada

Gurdeep Dhaliwal is the Strategic Alliances Manager at First Book Canada. When you first started, what was that like? I completed the Creative Book Publishing Program at Humber College, and through that the opportunity to apply for an internship with First Book Canada came up. From there, I was hired on as a Strategic Alliance Coordinator. It was just... Read more

First Book Canada Distributes Half a Million Books in Ontario in 2018

Posted in: Our Partners, Press Releases

TORONTO, Ontario (December 18, 2018) – At the Ontario Public Service Holiday Gift Drive, First Book Canada and members of the Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services donated 5,000 books to children in need. The books were generously donated by First Book Canada’s publishing partner Penguin Random House Canada and they will be distributed to the... Read more

A Holiday Collage Created by Our Members

Posted in: Focus on First Book Canada

In October, First Book Canada sent out a request to all members who had participated in a program this year to send in photos of receiving or distributing the books. We were overwhelmed by the response and received so many photos that it was difficult to fit them into the... Read more

2018 in Review

Posted in: Focus on First Book Canada, Impact Stories

As this year draws to an end, First Book Canada is taking a look back at some of our top ten moments of 2018! We’ve had the opportunity to provide books to kids from coast to coast to coast with the help of our dedicated members, partners, and volunteers. We’d like... Read more

Behind the Scenes at First Book Canada: Tom

Posted in: Focus on First Book Canada, Inside First Book Canada

Tom Best is the Executive Director of First Book Canada. When Tom started, there were only about 125 registered members. He’s seen it grow from this concentrated number to a steadily growing network of over 9,000 members. Can you start with telling me a bit about your day to day?  The nice thing is that... Read more

How are you making an impact?

Posted in: Focus on First Book Canada

Remember the first book that you felt was speaking directly to you? The first book that made you feel seen? Or the first book that helped you through a difficult experience? Maybe you got all that from one book or from multiple books, over the course of your childhood. Imagine... Read more

First Book Canada collaborates with Amazon Canada to deliver 100,000 books  

Posted in: Our Partners, Press Releases

TORONTO, Ontario (November 13, 2018) – Yesterday, First Book Canada held a press conference at Lord Dufferin Junior and Senior Public School to announce Amazon Canada’s donation of 100,000 books to Canadian children in high-needs communities. This generous donation is arriving in time for the holidays, allowing kids across Canada to have access to brand new, high-quality... Read more

First Book Canada and Xpand Laces provide books to Toronto public school

Posted in: Our Partners, Press Releases

TORONTO, Ontario (November 8, 2018) – On Thursday, November 1, First Book Canada brought 6Dad and former city councilor Norm Kelly and Canadian children’s author Paul Covello to Lynngate Junior Public School to celebrate the power of reading and education. This event included a presentation of a generous donation from Xpand... Read more

A plan for each child’s education

Posted in: For Educators, Our Partners

This post is created in collaboration with the Government of Canada. November 18-24 is Education Savings Week! This is a great opportunity to talk about saving early for a child’s education after high school. Whether it’s an apprenticeship program, trade school, college or university, post-secondary education can open up a world of opportunities for a child. What... Read more

Inspiring a Passion for Reading

Posted in: Impact Stories

On the morning of October 1, 2018, I participated in a very memorable cross-country exchange that took place between me and an audience assembled at the Brampton Public Library in Ontario.  From my home office in Vancouver, sitting at the same desk where I wrote every page of my three books, Below, Above, and Beyond, I had the very distinct privilege of being the first author to partake in First Book Canada’s inaugural digital reading celebration.  And what fun it proved to be! The event was the launch of... Read more